the environment is going to still be very dangerous. but what we've seen is that afghan soldiers are stepping up at great risk to themselves. and that allows us then to make this transition during the spring. what that translates into precisely in terms of how this drawdown of u.s. troops proceeds is something that isn't yet fully determined. i'm going to be over the coming weeks getting recommendations from general allen and other commanders on the ground. they will be designing and shaping a responsible plan to make sure that we're not losing the gains that have already been made, to make sure that we're in a position to support afghan units when they're in theater. and to make sure that our folks are also protected even as we're drawing down. so i can't give you a precise number at this point. i'll probably make a separate announcement once i've gotten recommendations from the generals and our commanders in terms of what that drawdown might look like. with respect to post 2014, we've got two goals. and our main conversation today was